2026 TESA Nominee Profile: British Columbia— Miller & Grier Families

Blending Tradition and Innovation 

Shaped by Four Generations

At Chilco Ranch—Miller Ranches, the story begins long before the sun rises over the Hanceville range. It begins with four generations whose hands have shaped the land, tended the cattle, and built a legacy rooted in family and community. Their operation is vast: 1,000 head of Hereford cattle, 200 replacement heifers, and 70 bulls spread across 20,000 acres of deeded land and another 150,000 acres of crown grazing territory. Yet the true measure of Chilco Ranch isn’t found in numbers, it’s found in the people who have poured their lives into it.

Through partnerships, open-minded management, and a commitment to blending tradition with innovation, the Miller and Grier families have created a ranching operation that doesn’t just function; it thrives.

Sustainability Practices

In the rolling grasslands of Hanceville, cattle move with purpose. Rotational grazing is more than a strategy here; it’s a philosophy. Using electric fencing, careful planning, and the watchful eyes of experienced employees, the family guides cattle across the landscape in a way that protects soil, encourages vegetative regrowth, and prevents compaction.

Pastures are given time to rest, heal and flourish. And because people are almost always out with the cattle, predator pressure is reduced, another benefit of their hands-on approach. Year after year, the family works to build healthier soil, stronger forage, and a more resilient herd. Improvement isn’t a goal; it’s a continuous journey.

Environmental Commitment

Water flows like a lifeline through Chilco Ranch. Forty lakes and roughly 65 kilometres of water ditches weave through the land, supporting wildlife, cattle and ecosystems. Managing such an intricate network is no small task, but the family has embraced technology to meet the challenge.

Sensors now monitor water levels and send real-time data directly to their phones, allowing them to protect riparian areas, safeguard aquatic species, and collaborate closely with Ducks Unlimited to support bird habitat and nesting cycles. Their careful water stewardship has also helped reduce predation, proving that environmental mindfulness strengthens every part of the ranching system.

Community

For the Grier and Miller families, community isn’t an afterthought, it’s a cornerstone. Whether they’re attending regional cattlemen’s meetings or helping a neighbour with branding, they show up with generosity and pride.

Their commitment to community extends to the next generation. Jordan and Crystal’s children are active in 4‑H, learning not only how to raise livestock but how to speak confidently, keep records, and pay attention to detail. These lessons shape capable young people who understand responsibility, teamwork and the value of rural life.

The Future

Chilco Ranch looks to the future with the same open-mindedness that has carried it through generations. Electric fencing already helps intensify grazing in large paddocks, but the family hopes to trial virtual fencing collars, technology that could revolutionize pasture management. Drones, enhanced water systems, and additional off-site watering locations are also on the horizon.

Their vision is clear: combine innovation with strong partnerships to strengthen conservation, efficiency, and long-term sustainability. Yet even as they embrace new tools, the heart of the ranch remains family. Jordan captures this perfectly: “If they want to ranch someday, I would be ecstatic, but there is no pressure and we won’t rush the kids to make a decision. The ranch will be here if and when they are ready.”

Welcoming Change

Chilco Ranch stands as a testament to what can be built when generations commit themselves to a shared purpose. It is a place where tradition is not simply remembered but actively lived. In the way cattle are moved across the grasslands, the way water is monitored with care, and in the way neighbours gather to help one another without hesitation. Every pasture, every fence line, every trail worn into the hills carries the imprint of the families who have tended this land with patience and pride.

Their story is not one of resisting change, but of welcoming it thoughtfully. Innovation is woven into the ranch’s future just as tightly as heritage is woven into its past. Virtual fencing, drones, enhanced water systems: these tools are not meant to replace the wisdom of those who walk the land, but to strengthen it. They are the next chapter in a long narrative of stewardship, one that balances progress with respect for the ecosystems and communities that make ranching possible.

Yet at the heart of Chilco Ranch, beyond the cattle and the technology and the sweeping acres, is family. The ranch is a place where children learn responsibility by doing, where values are passed down through everyday moments, and where the next generation is encouraged to find its own path. Jordan’s words capture this beautifully: the ranch will be here if and when the kids are ready. It is not an obligation waiting for them. It is an opportunity, a legacy built with love, patience, and intention. 

In the end, Chilco Ranch is more than an operation. It is a living, evolving story of people and land growing together. It is proof that sustainability is not a single practice but a mindset. That community is not a duty but a joy. And that the future of ranching can be both innovative and deeply rooted in tradition. As the seasons continue to turn over the Hanceville range, the ranch stands ready, grounded in its past, thriving in its present, and open-hearted toward whatever comes next.